DimarioUWF
86
Winner North Alabama UNA 14-8, 11-5 GSC
85
Shorter SU 11-11, 6-10 GSC
Winner
North Alabama UNA
14-8, 11-5 GSC
86
Final
85
Shorter SU
11-11, 6-10 GSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Alabama UNA 50 36 86
Shorter SU 39 46 85

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2/6/2016 | 4 PM (EST)

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Feb. 06 (Sat) / 4 PM (EST)
at Lee
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

LATE BASKET STEALS WIN FOR LIONS AT SHORTER

ROME, Ga., – Da'Shaun Griffin took a pass from a driving Dimario Jackson and scored with less than two seconds remaining to give the University of North Alabama men's basketball team an 86-85 victory Thursday evening at Shorter. The second straight Gulf South Conference road win gives the Lions a 14-8 overall record with an 11-5 mark in league action to maintain second place in the GSC standings.
 
The winning basket came moments after the Hawks grabbed a one-point lead on a three-pointer by Phil Taylor. Jackson took the inbounds pass and drove the length of the floor, drawing several Shorter defenders as he made his move to the basket. His pass found Griffin, who laid the ball in off the glass with 1.6 seconds to play.
 
A court-length inbounds pass gave Shorter an open attempt at a desperation three-pointer. The shot by Alijah Bennett, however was off the mark, sealing the win for the Lions.
 
The victory gives North Alabama a season sweep over Shorter by a combined three points after posting an 80-78 earlier in the year at Flowers Hall. UNA held a 50-39 lead at the break and led by as many as 17 in the second half.
 
The home team used a 30-8 run to get back in the game, grabbing its first lead at 70-69 on a free throw by Taylor at the 5:04 mark. The Hawks extended their lead to 74-69 with 3:53 remaining before UNA made its last surge. A three-pointer by John Fletcher on the ensuing possession cut the deficit to 74-72 and neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way.
 
With Shorter nursing an 82-81 lead in the final minute of play, a pair of free throws by Fletcher put the Lions ahead by a single point. Taylor, the nation's second-leading scorer in NCAA Division II, dribbled to the corner where he was trapped by Griffin. The junior called timeout when the Hawks had none, prompting a technical foul with 9.7 seconds remaining.
 
After Fletcher's free throw briefly gave UNA an 84-82 lead, Taylor got open for a three-pointer and connected with 7.4 seconds left to give Shorter the lead and set up Griffin's winning basket.
 
Fletcher led UNA with 19 points, including a 7-for-7 showing from the free throw line. Austin Timms added 18 points while Jeff Hodge finished with 16 points and four three-point baskets. Griffin rounded out the top scorers for the Lions with 10 points. He added five rebounds, including two big boards at the defensive end down the stretch.
 
Taylor led Shorter (11-11 overall, 6-10 GSC) with a game-high 38 points.
 
UNA will play at Lee on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. (EST) on the Lee campus in Cleveland, Tenn.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

John Fletcher

#10 John Fletcher

G
6' 2"
Senior
Jeff Hodge

#3 Jeff Hodge

G
5' 11"
Junior
Da

#32 Da'Shaun Griffin

F
6' 6"
Junior
Dimario Jackson

#11 Dimario Jackson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Austin Timms

#20 Austin Timms

G/F
6' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

John Fletcher

#10 John Fletcher

6' 2"
Senior
G
Jeff Hodge

#3 Jeff Hodge

5' 11"
Junior
G
Da

#32 Da'Shaun Griffin

6' 6"
Junior
F
Dimario Jackson

#11 Dimario Jackson

6' 0"
Junior
G
Austin Timms

#20 Austin Timms

6' 7"
Junior
G/F